Canberrans now have the option to include both biological and adoptive parents on their birth certificates following changes introduced at Access Canberra.
Commenting on the change, Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne said that previously only one set of parents could be featured on birth certificates.
“The integrated birth certificate enables both a person’s biological and adoptive parents to feature on their birth certificate,” Ms Cheyne said.
“This change is important for adopted Canberrans as it forms part of their story, their history and their identity,” she said.
“The change follows extensive consultation with stakeholders involved in adoptions both within and connected to the ACT.”
Ms Cheyne said adoptees could apply for an Integrated Birth Certificate (IBC) if their birth was registered in the ACT and they were adopted by a family in Australia.
“If a person was born overseas but adopted in the ACT, they can also apply for an Integrated Birth Certificate to the extent that information is available to the ACT Registrar-General’s office,” she said.
The Minister said the IBC was free if the adopted person had already been issued with a post-adoption certificate.
In a statement, Access Canberra said people wishing to apply for an IBC would first need to contact the Adoption and Permanent Care Team at Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) to obtain identifying information and a letter of authority to access records contained in the Adoptions Register.
“Once you have received the documentation from CYPS, you can then apply for the IBC online,” Access Canberra said.
Furter information on the IBC can be accessed at this PS News link.
